Explore | Capture | Share
Grizzly Bears, Whales, & the Indigenous Culture
of Echo Bay, BC
EXPLORE & CREATE WITH US
Instructor: Matt Shannon
Owner of Trek West Adventure Photography 
Instructor: Dave Hutchison
2020 PPOC Best in Class Fine Art Winner |
Where: Haida Way Motel, Port McNeil (1 night) & Echo Bay Marina & Lodge (3 nights), BC
-GOOGLE MAPS- When: Aug 25-29, 2023
Who: For photographers wanting to explore & create images & video on the wild west coast of BC Limited to 6 participants - 2 instructors Dave Hutchison 2020 PPOC Best in Class Fine Art Winner Matt Shannon Owner: TrekWest Photography Company Cost: $6,495 Cdn + 5% GST EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT! Save $250.00. Deal ends November 30th 2022! Reserve Your Spot!Email: [email protected]
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Join us on an adventure into the Great Bear Rainforest this August. We will spend four unforgettable days immersed in the rich biodiversity of the area. The highlights will be grizzly bears and whales, with a high chance that orcas, sea otters, white sided dolphins, black bears, wolves and more are ready to photobomb our adventure! We will be guided and taught by Mike Willie, owner of Sea Wolf Adventures, about the history and culture of his traditional lands. Myself and Dave Hutchison Images will provide in depth photography lessons and mentorship throughout the weekend for a limit of 6 participants. Beginner photographers can enter.
Thank you very much for considering a workshop with Dave Hutchison & myself for 2023. Over the last several months, Dave & I have researched several locations on the southern BC mainland coast that would provide a once in a lifetime opportunity where our clients can grow both personally and photographically. I am very confident we have found the best location and the best guides at Coastal Rainforest Safaris & Sea Wolf Adventures based out of Echo Bay Marina & Lodge north of the Broughton Achipelago! I visited the Broughtons once in 2010 and it is an outstanding area of BC. You will not be disappointed! If you have any questions, please email myself directly. Please enjoy a short video of Echo Bay below. |
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Meet Matt Shannon
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Matt Shannon is an inspired nature and landscape photographer living on Vancouver Island. His images have captured an international audience and his artwork hangs in homes around the world. He has developed a keen eye for detail and a passion for striking images. He is an enthusiastic teacher and hosts regular workshops aimed at inspiring and equipping photographers.
From a young age Matt Shannon was captivated with the wild world around him. He grew up in a small town in New Brunswick where from a young age he would practice his survival skills camping in the dense forest. After high school Matt leapt out into the world, falling in love with traveling. He lived in South America, Asia and India and drove across North America 9 times. It was his exploration of new places that first inspired his love of photography. Matt loved that the lens allowed him to share these new worlds with his friends and family back home. Matt still remembers his first trip to Vancouver Island 13 years ago when he spent the night on Mystic Beach on the Juan de Fuca trail. He fell in love with the rugged coastline, massive trees and the endless adventures Vancouver Island holds and has called the Island home ever since. Matt’s photography is the product of his adventuresome heart - it’s the physical representation of his love for striking landscapes and beautiful natural creations. Today Matt continues to explore the west coast and capture compelling images to share. |
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Testimonials about Matt ShannonMatt is an incredible photographer and a great teacher. He knows his craft and loves to share his knowledge with others. His love of the outdoors is contagious and shows in his landscape compositions. I’ve attended two workshops Matt has put on and have enjoyed both coming away with new skills and knowledge. The one on one post processing sessions with Matt were a great opportunity to talk about my compositions and learn more advance techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop. I plan to attend future workshops Matt puts on and highly recommend them to other photographers wanting to improve their knowledge and skills. I recently went on a photography workshop with Matt and found him to be very personable, patient and a great instructor. I'd recommend anyone to take a class with him. Being on a workshop with Matt was a great experience. He was always ready & willing to answer any questions about camera settings or anything photography related. Also very helpful with post processing issues. Highly recommend! |
Meet Dave Hutchison
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I started my photography career 15 years ago and have had the privilege to explore and create images all over the BC coast. I have done countless trips up and down the BC coast including three tours of the beautiful Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary north of Prince Rupert. I also co-organized a workshop to the Khutzeymateen Grizzly in 2019 with long time friend of 25 years, Shane McDermott. A highlight of my career was leading a successful workshop out of Klemtu, on the north central BC coast in search of the illusive Spirit Bear. Those spirit images images are still vivid in my mind today (yes, I photographed a spirit bear)! I have also led over a half dozen workshops for marine life including orca whales and humpbacks.
Over the last several months, Matt (my new workshop partner, Shane moved to Costa Rica) & I have researched several locations on the southern BC mainland coast that would provide a once in a lifetime opportunity where our clients can grow both personally and photographically. I am very confident we have found the best location and the best guides at Coastal Rainforest Safaris & Sea Wolf Adventures based out of Echo Bay Marina & Lodge north of the Broughton Achipelago! I visited the Broughtons once in 2010 and it is an outstanding area of BC. You will not be disappointed! If you have any questions for Dave Hutchison, please email him directly. |
Testimonials about Dave HutchisonDave is a highly qualified and experienced photographer. His knowledge of the Vancouver Island area allowed him to plan an experience that was second to none. Throughout he was always teaching and helping. The result was a experience from which I learned much about photography and the Vancouver Island coastal area. Dave provided an excellent workshop. He is passionate about his profession and photography and as a result, found him to be very engaging and interesting. Dave was clearly interested and willing to determine where your ability levels were at and encouraged you to take the next steps out of your comfort zones to learn and try new techniques. I also found Dave was very generous with his time one on one in the field. I look forward to future workshops with Dave. |
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Images from around Echo Bay by Mike Willie (our indigenous guide)
Sea Wolf AdventuresIndigenous powerhouse Mike Willie, owner of Sea Wolf Adventures, takes great pride in teaching and passing on the knowledge of his ancestors. As a ceremonial leader in Potlatches and a steward of the land, Mike and his team are active in exercising traditional laws that protect our land and water for future generations.
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Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First NationMike grew up in the remote village of Kingcome Inlet and is a member of the Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation. He has been given the names, T’ɬaɬba’lisame’ (Breaching Whale and Leader) and T’ɬalis (Breaching Whale Around the World), celebrating his deep connection to the culture, the history, and the original land of his ancestors.
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Mike WillieMike has spent his life travelling the waters of the Broughton Archipelago as a route to his homeland and as a place to harvest food. Dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of his traditional culture and language, Mike devotes his time to research and spending time with Elders. Passionate about sharing historical information and traditional knowledge as a speaker, multimedia producer, and teacher, Mike learned the songs of his ancestors at a young age and is an active song keeper and composer. He is respected as a leader of ceremonies in the Potlatch and takes pride in being active in his culture. Mike also has a love for tourism and gets exciting to share his upbringing to guests from around the world; he loves being on the water showing guests the exciting wildlife and scenery!
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Introduction to Echo Bay Bears, Whales & CultureWe are the Kwakwaka’wakw, the Kwak´wala-speaking people, made up of 18 tribes whose territory reaches from what is now northern Vancouver Island southeast to the middle of the island, and to smaller islands and inlets such as Johnstone Strait.
Deeply connected to and physically and spiritually sustained by the animals, trees, and waters of this region, our rich culture has survived millennia and we are proud to introduce guests to our homeland and our communities. Led by Sea Wolf Adventures’ owner Mike Willie, a proud member of the Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis people, our team of Indigenous expert guides introduce visitors to areas that we have called home for millennia. Alert Bay was one of several traditional Kwakwaka’wakw villages where our people were resettled and schooled by the government. Breaking free from the iron hand that came down on us in the form of residential schools and a Potlatch ban, each of our guides play an important role in keeping our culture alive today. “Potlatch is a way to carry out traditional governance for the people. A way to look after the old people,” explains Mike Willie. “Potlatch is a way to maintain intertribal connections, by dancing your masks, stories, and songs in front of other tribes to record our history. A way to carry forward teachings for the future generations.” All our guides are culturally trained and very active in the Potlatches today; we are ceremonial leaders and take great pride in being able to teach and pass on the knowledge of our ancestors. We are active in exercising our traditional laws that protect our lands and waters for our future generations and we are honoured to share our beautiful home with visitors from around the globe.
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Trip & Activity Information:
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This five day, four nights workshop is best for those that are used to the outdoors. We will be doing short hikes and may have to walk over rocks and other unstable surfaces. However, we will also spend a fair amount of time photographing from the 27ft Zodiac on day 2 and the 31ft partially covered Mayumi on day 3 & 4. Some bear viewing will be best on land but only when Mike says it is fine to do so. Day 5, will be in either the Zodiac or the Mayumi. If you have any questions about the physical activities, please email: [email protected]
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Itinerary:
What IS included: - boat transportation to and from the Echo Bay Marina & Lodge from Port McNeil. - parking fees incurred while parking your vehicle while at Haida Way Motel for the entire trip. - any indigenous fees to enter their land - lunch & dinner Day, all meals, Day 3 & 4, breakfast and lunch on Day 5 - Note, there is stable hydro at Echo Bay Lodge for charging camera batteries, etc., however, there is very limited internet service and no cell service. Note the internet service will not be suitable for large file transfers or video streaming or video calling. What is NOT included: - First night at Haida Way Motor Inn is not included (September 8th). We are not permitted by law to book accommodations on behalf of clients. There is a group rate for this hotel under "Dave Hutchison" Rate is around $100 + taxes. Details TBA Please call the motel directly to book your first night say for the 5 day, 4 nights trip. Haida-Way Motor Inn Port McNeill B.C. Phone: (250) 956-3373 - meals on Day 1, breakfast on Day 2 - medical insurance is required for this remote access trip (read below before you register) - trip cancellation / trip interruption insurance - transportation to and from Port McNeil - your personal items and camera gear What to BRING: - 2 x camera bodies is very beneficial, but 1 will do - a video camera would be an added bonus - 3-4 memory cards (depending on the sizes you have) - laptop or external storage device (whale photography can accumulate images at a rapid rate) - spare camera batteries - mid range wide angle for landscape shots like a 24-70mm or 24-120mm (great for video too) - mid range telephoto 70-200mm - telephoto or zooms 80-400mm, 200-500mm, 180-400mm, 300mm f/2.8, 500mm f/4, etc. (most important for this trip) - 1.4x teleconverter could be handy depending on your lens - polarizer for landscape shots - most of the wildlife photography will be handheld. However, a tripod will be beneficial when we are on land viewing the bears and safe to do so. - camera bag with water proof cover - camera lens cover (Aquatech or Think Tank Hydrophobia is recommended) - several lens cloths - water bottle - water proof rain pants (we will photograph in the Great Bear "Rain" forest) - water proof rain jacket (light one is good if you are layering with a few sweaters) - light sweater(s) (please dress in layers as it can be cool and warm at Echo Bay on the same day) - hiking boots while on the Day 2-4 adventures - sandals or light runners while at the Lodge - hat and or warm toque - waterproof - sunscreen (can be bright on the water) - pen and small note pad for camera bag Note, synthetic or wool clothing is recommended - avoid cotton for clothes warn away from the lodge. Other details:* * Our intention is to offer two instructors on this trip (myself and Dave Hutchison) and eight participants. However, in the event of an unforeseen circumstance we can't guarantee two instructors. If one of us is sick or injured, the workshop will proceed. ** Trip pricing is based on shared accommodations (double occupancy) Payment & Cancellation Policy: In the event that Coastal Rainforest Safaris (or Dave Hutchison/Matt Shannon) are unable to operate the tour due to a BC Government imposed non-essential travel advisory during the dates of your trip, you will be refunded in full. If you cancel for another reason due to injury, sickness, etc. Then your optional trip cancellation insurance would be in effect.
VERY IMPORTANT - READ THIS BEFORE YOU BOOK To purchase insurance, please email Mike directly at [email protected] or visit http://www.tailwindtravel.ca/ for more information on your insurance needs. Also, insurance does not have to be purchased through Trailwind Travel. This is our suggestion and who we have aligned with. Mike Gilmore Tailwind Travel o. 250 419 4544 c. 250 415 7665 [email protected] Note, Matt & I are not qualified to consult on insurance. We will direct you to call Mike. * NOTE VERY IMPORTANT: The travel insurance including cancel for any reason must be purchased within 72 hours of your booking / deposit being made. We CANNOT change this policy. After your register, BUY your insurance. |
EXPLORE & CREATE WITH US
Roam with Grizzlies!Eating, swimming, napping and walking, these grizzlies are cute in every movement of life. Capture unique and stunning Grizzly Bear images!
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Dive InWhales, dophins, sealions, seaotters, porpuses, seals and more.
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Say Hello to the WildEnjoy and share BC's amazing the environment!
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